The following is the list of the battles and skirmishes engaged in
during the seventy days’ fighting by the detachment from the 21st
Missouri.
Fort De Russey, La. March 14th, 1864
Pleasant Hill, “ April 9th, “
Coulterville, “ “ 22d, “
Cane River, “ “ 23d, “
Henderson’s Hill, “ May 2d, “
Jones’ Plantation, “ “ 3d, “
Bayou La More, “ “ 4th, “
Bayou Boeuf, “ “ 6th-7th, “
Marksville, “ “ 16th, “
Bayou De Glaize, “ “ 17th, “
Yellow Bayou, “ “ 18th, “
Gen. Banks’ losses in the 13th and 19th Army Corps were about three
thousand men, killed, wounded and prisoners, twenty-two pieces of
artillery and one hundred and forty-five wagons loaded with commissary
stores and camp equipments. The losses of the parts of the 16th and
17th Army Corps present, commanded by Gen. A. J. Smith, were about one
thousand from all causes. In the several battles and skirmishes we were
engaged in we captured from the enemy two thousand prisoners and thirty
pieces of artillery. These captures were made in battles fought by Gen.
Smith’s command, in which Gen. Banks’ men had no part. Col. Shaw’s
Brigade sustained the greatest loss of any on the expedition and it was
equal to about one-half that sustained by the whole command under Gen.
Smith.
The detachment of the 21st Missouri lost about fifty men, killed,
wounded and prisoners, including one officer of the 24th Missouri,
assigned. That we did our whole duty, I need only call attention to
the fact that after the battle of Pleasant Hill, La., Maj. Robt. Fyan,
commanding the 24th and detachment of the 21st Missouri, personally
thanked the members of the 21st for gallantry during the action. The
loss of the 24th and 21st combined during the campaign was three
officers killed, namely: Capt. Robinson, Lieuts. Shadel and Stone,
and one Color Sergeant killed and one wounded, Wm. O’Connor of the
21st, making a total loss of about one hundred men killed, wounded and
missing.
Parting Between the 21st and 24th.
We reached Vicksburg about the 21st of June and there took leave of the
24th Missouri, and returned to our own regiment, which had returned
from its veteran furlough north. While we were with the 24th Missouri
we became very much attached to the officers and men. The officers were
courteous and the men true comrades.
In writing the foregoing account of the part taken by our brigade
and regiment I have had nothing to aid me except my memory of the
events narrated, in all of which I was an active participant. And in
conclusion I now ask the charitable consideration of comrades and the
general reader for any imperfections it may contain.
T. W. HOLMAN,
Co. D, 21st Missouri Infantry.
[Illustration: T. W. HOLMAN.
Private, Co. D, 21st Regiment Missouri Inf. Vet. Vols.
Sec’y and Treas., 21st Missouri Inf. Vet. Vols. Association.]
Resumption of the History of the 21st.
At Vicksburg the detachment of the 21st taking part in the Red River
campaign joined their comrades who had returned at the expiration of
their thirty days’ furlough. On June 4th the regiment left Vicksburg
on a steamer, en route up the river for Memphis. The Confederates,
however, had erected batteries on the west bank of the river,
preventing the transports from proceeding. A landing was made at a
point called Columbia, on June 5th, and on the following day the
regiment was marched around Lake Providence and had an engagement with
the enemy at Lake Chicot. The Confederates were completely routed and
the blockade of the river removed. On the 7th the command re-embarked
on the transports and arrived at Memphis on the 10th without any
further incident.
On June the 12th the regiment was ordered to the relief of Gen.
Sturgis, who had been defeated a few days previous at Gun Town. The
retreating Federals were met at Colliersville, and under the escort of
the 21st made the trip into Memphis without being molested by the enemy.
On June 25th the regiment, along with the 1st Brigade, 3d Division, to
which it belonged, moved out of the city and encamped at Moscow, on the
Memphis and Charleston Railroad, and on the 26th held Division review.
On June 27th the regiment was moved to La Grange, Tenn., where it was
encamped until July 8th. At this time it was marched to Pontotoc,
Miss., going by way of Ripley, and traversing a distance of over one
hundred miles, and on the route the regiment was continuously fighting
and skirmishing with the cavalry of the enemy under Gen. Forrest. On
July 13th another move was made, to Tupelo, Miss., a distance of twenty
miles, where an engagement with the enemy, known to history as the
battle of Tupelo, took place. The 21st took a conspicuous part in this
engagement, as will be seen by reading the report of Col. Edwin Moore,
here published: